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Show Bauted QkiUimal Christmas was outlawed In England Eng-land by the Puritan government of England in 1643 and, although the restoration of the Stuarts brought a revival of Christmas customs and traditions, Christmas never regained re-gained its former prestige in England. Eng-land. It is observed religiously in the churches and as a day for family reunions and sbcial gatherings, in contrast to the lavish feasting and boisterous merry-making of olden times. Merry-making and gift-giving come in for their share, however, on December 26 which is Boxing Day. The origin of Boxing Day antedates ante-dates Christmas and can be traced to the custom of gilt-giying during the Roman festival of Saturnalia. In Christian liturgy December 28 is observed as the feast of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, and during the centuries when journeymen jour-neymen and apprentices were in the habit of levying upon their masters' mas-ters' customers, 'Christmas Boxes' were collected on St. Stephen's day. Thus, the children receive their presents, in boxes, as do old servants, serv-ants, "the postman, and everyone else. And reminiscent of the. Roman Saturnalia, householders dance with the servants . and, toward evening, there is revelling in the streets as groups of merry-makers gather on street corners or ride about London-town dancing on the 'flats' of trucks. |